Sutera plant named &#39;sutcatrabl&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Sutera  plant particularly distinguished by its very big blue flowers, early to flower, thick stems and a growing habit that is spreading and trailing.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Sutera diffusa

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘Sutcatrabl’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new distinct cultivar of Sutera,botanically known as Sutera diffusa.

The new cultivar is propagated from cuttings resulting from the cross of‘B21’ and ‘B23’. ‘B21’ is a lavender blue flowering Sutera having aspreading, trailing habit. ‘B21’ is not commercially available and isnot known by any synonyms. ‘B23’ is a white flowering Sutera having alarger than normal flower. ‘B23’ is not commercially available and isnot known by any synonyms. Neither ‘B21’ or ‘B23’ has been patented.

As a result of this cross the present cultivar was created in 2000 inEnkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced bycuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and Sarrians, France over a threeyear period. It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristicsthrough successive propagations, and this novelty appears to be firmlyfixed.

This new Sutera plant is an annual in most climatical zones in the US,only in zones 9 and 10 it is a perennial plant.

‘Sutcatrabl’ is coming from the same cross as the variety ‘Sutharis’,Plant Pat. 15,254, from which it differs in having a dark blue colorinstead of a lavender color and having smaller leaves.

Also ‘Sutcabl’ is from the same cross, and is applied for Plant Patentat the same time. ‘Sutcabl’ has a lighter flower color, smaller flowersize and a more compact habit than ‘Sutcatrabl.’

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It was found that the cultivar of the present invention:

-   -   a) Exhibits big, dark blue flowers;    -   b) has thick stems; and    -   c) exhibits a spreading and trailing growth habit

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Sutera plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographicdrawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color,the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of this new Sutera. The data that define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inEnkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 15 weeks oldplants, blossomed under natural light in a greenhouse and grown in a 11cm container. Colour readings were taken in the greenhouse under ambientlight. Colour references are primarily to the RHS Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society of London. TABLE 1 Differences between thenew cultivar ‘Sutcatrabl’, its parents and a similar cultivar‘Sutcatrabl’ ‘B21’ ‘B23’ ‘Blue Showers’ Flower color Deep Blue Deep blueWhite Blue Stem thickness Thick Medium Thick Thin Plant habit TrailingTrailing Compact Trailing Flower size Big Big Small Small

The commercial name of the most resembling variety is ‘Blue Showers’.The patented name of this variety is ‘Bacoble’ and its U.S. Plant Pat.No. is PP 13,181. The Plant Classification Botanical Sutera diffusaParentage Female parent A seedling named ‘B21’ is one of our seedlingsfrom our B-generation of plants bred in 1999. Pollen parent A seedlingnamed ‘B23’ is one of our seedings from our B- generation of plants bredin 1999. Growth habit Compact Plant height 12-17 cm Spreading area ofplant 30-50 cm Growth rate Rapid growing Strength Good Branching habitShort internodes and on each knot more than two apprearing shoots give aplant that is more branched than normal Blooming period From May untilNovember The Stem Diameter 2-3 mm Shape Cylindrical Anthocyaninpigmentation Absent Color of the stem 135C Length of internode 12-30 mm,depending on the light where the plant is propagated Pubescence SparseThe Foliage Phyllotaxis Opposite Shape of blade Non-symmetrical broadlyovate Shape of the blade apex Acute Shape of the blade baseNon-symmetrical attenuate Leaf margin Dentate Venation Pinnate TextureUpper surface Smooth, glabrous Lower surface Slightly pubescent Length8-22 mm Width 10-23 mm Thickness 1-2 mm Depth of incision Less than 1 mmColor Upper side 135B Lower side 137C Length of petiole 1 mm Diameter ofpetiole 1 mm Color of petiole 135B Fragrance Musk The Bud Pedicel length12-16 mm Pedicel diameter 1-2 mm Pedicel color 135B Pedicel angle About60 degrees from the stem Bud size Diameter 2 mm Length 4-8 mm Bud shapeObovate Bud color 85A Sepals Color 137C to 137B Number 5 Shape Erectcalyx Size 1 mm The Flower Flower diameter 14-20 mm Flower tube length6-10 mm Throat diameter, distal end 2.5-4 mm Tube diameter, proximal end1.5-2.5 mm Form Salverform Symmetry Radial symmetric Type Solitary,axillary Color Upper surface 90C Lower surface From 91C in the center toN88C on the edge Corolla tube Cylindrical Corolla tube color 17DOverlapping of petals Separate No. of petals 5 Shape of the petalsGamopetalous, grown together at the base of the petal, forming a corollaPetal lobe Length 5-8 mm Width 3-5 mm Shape Spatulate Apex RoundedMargin Entire Texture Smooth Shape of sepals Gamopetalous, growntogether at the base of the sepal Calyx Length 6-8 mm Diameter 3 mmShape Narrow, linear Apex Acute Margin Entire Texture of the calyx Uppersurface Pubescent Lower surface Pubescent Color of the calyx Uppersurface 135C Lower surface 135C Anthocyanin pigmentation of calyx limbAbsent Flower fragrance No fragrance detected Lastingness of one flowerFlowers stay open 8-10 days Reproductive organs Number of reproductiveorgans 1 pistil, 4 stamens Pollen production Very low Stigma color 138DStamen color 13B Stamen arrangement Didynamous Stamen type BasifixedDehiscence of stamens Extrorse Ovary position Ovary superior, flowerhypogynous Style shape Style terete Style length 5 mm Pistil length 8 mmSeeds No seeds are formed. Roots Type of roots Fibrous and fine, color155A

-   Physiological and ecological characteristics: No exceptional    physiological and ecological differences with other cultivars of    Sutera diffusa are observed.-   Propagation: Propagation is done by axillary cuttings. Tips of stems    are used, which take 6 days to initiate roots and 12 days to develop    roots.

1. A new and distinct variety of Sutera plant named ‘Sutcatrabl’,substantially as illustrated and described herein.